[Booktopia] "Thinking Needs a Walk Too": Why Independent Thought Matters More Than Ever in the AI Era

Photo courtesy of RH Korea.

As artificial intelligence delivers instant answers with unprecedented speed, a different question is becoming increasingly urgent: Are people losing the ability to think for themselves? In his newly published book Thinking Needs a Walk Too, Japanese scholar Toyama Shigehiko argues that genuine thought begins not with efficiency, but with deliberate reflection.

Rather than accepting information at face value, Toyama encourages readers to cultivate the habit of questioning, connecting ideas, and developing independent judgment. He suggests that authentic intellectual growth comes from processing knowledge internally instead of merely consuming the opinions of others.

The book contends that creativity rarely emerges from relentless concentration alone. Instead, moments of mental openness—such as taking a walk, stepping away from a problem, or allowing thoughts to settle—create the conditions for unexpected insights. Forgetting, in this context, is not a weakness but an essential part of the creative process, clearing space for new ideas to take shape.

Toyama also cautions against placing excessive faith in established authorities or widely accepted knowledge. Just as young plants struggle beneath the shade of towering trees, original thinking can be stifled by overwhelming reliance on existing ideas. New concepts require time to mature beneath the surface before they are ready to be fully developed.

At a time when misinformation spreads rapidly and AI-generated content continues to blur the boundaries between fact and fabrication, the author argues that strengthening one's capacity for critical thinking is more important than ever. Rather than searching for ready-made answers, readers are encouraged to create the mental space where original ideas can grow.

Written by a scholar now in his nineties, Thinking Needs a Walk Too offers a thoughtful reminder that slowing down, reflecting, and thinking independently remain essential skills in an age increasingly defined by automation.

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